Senate panel backs call to close
juvenile prisonThe Advocate
By WILL SENTELL

Capitol news bureau

A bill to close a juvenile prison in Tallulah
cleared a Senate committee Monday despite questions on whether the shutdown
is cost-efficient.

The prison is the SwansonCorrectionalCenter for Youth-Madison
Parish Unit. The measure requires it to close by June
30, 2004.

Senate Bill 963 was approved by the Senate Finance Committee
5-3. It next faces action in the full Senate, possibly today.

The prison has been plagued by problems and controversy
since it opened in 1994 -- a riot, allegations of physical abuse and questions
about the contract between the state and operators of the facility. It houses
225 juvenile offenders.

Sen. Donald Cravins, D-Arnaudville and sponsor of the bill,
said the Tallulah prison "represents everything that is wrong with juvenile
justice in Louisiana."

"Whoever dreamed up Tallulah ought to be in the penitentiary,"
Cravins quipped later.

Critics of the bill said they are bothered that, even when
the prison is closed, the state will have to pay $3.4 million per year to
make lease payments on the structure.

Sen. Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro, asked what the state
accomplishes if it keeps the prison, moves its occupants elsewhere and fails
to save money. Ellington also asked if state corrections officials could revamp
the prison.

Cravins said closing the structure is part of a statewide
plan to emphasize community-based sites.

He said Missouri has transformed its juvenile program, once
plagued by many of the same problems as prisons in Louisiana.

Now Missouri's system costs taxpayers there about $65 million
a year, with about 10 percent of released offenders later returning to jail.
Louisiana's juvenile justice system costs taxpayers about $135 million, and
about 60 percent of offenders released return later, he said.

Other backers of the bill downplayed the $3.4 million costs.
They said the state will find a use for the prison after it is closed.

The panel also approved a separate bill designed to pave
the way for sweeping changes in juvenile operations. Cravins said no state
money will be spent until lawmakers decide on details of the plan. That measure,
which next faces action in the full Senate, is Senate Bill 957.